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The 10-year Treasury rising past 4.5% has taken the wind out of real estate's recovery sails. Momentum gained in Q1 is already reversing as the war in Iran pushes on inflation. MSCI Chief Economist of Real Estate Research Jim Costello said the volatile bond market is “a new wrench thrown into the works.” And while he believes the CRE recovery is still underway, it's tenuous.“[Investors] need to do more scenario planning these days, because that's how you can deal with the growing uncertainty in the market,” he said.
A flawed bridge, frayed nerves, fraught politics – this has been a daily reality for Rhode Islanders since the abrupt closure of the Washington Bridge westbound in 2023. But it's not the first time the state has grappled with how to replace a critical highway bridge. Rhode Island Report partnered with GBH's Big Dig podcast for a live conversation about Providence's complicated relationship with its urban highways. The Big Dig host Ian Coss joined host Edward Fitzpatrick to interview Mike Lewis, former director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, and Zachary Cunha, former United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island. This is a lightly edited recording of that discussion. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When it comes to affordability, few issues hit more than housing. We need homes of all types without cratering the value of the existing housing stock. That's not an easy task, but it is one the federal government is lending its policy to. Host Amanda Lang talks to Gregor Robertson, the federal minister of housing and infrastructure and former mayor of Vancouver.
City leaders want to innovate, but most are stuck solving yesterday's problems with yesterday's tools. Real breakthroughs come from fundamentally changing how governments listen to communities. Host Stephen Goldsmith speaks with Dr. Francisca Rojas, executive director of the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins, about how technology and design are helping cities understand what residents actually need—and why legacy systems are the real barrier to change. In this episode, you'll learn: How Savannah used digital mapping to uncover flooding problems FEMA data missed by listening to residents Why the Maryland Community Business Compass uses AI to democratize information for small businesses How digital twins help communities imagine and approve projects like affordable housing before they're built What Baltimore learned by reframing vacant housing as both a rehabilitation problem and a prevention problem Listener Survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod Music credit: Summer-Man by Ketsa About Data-Smart City Solutions Data-Smart City Solutions, housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, is working to catalyze the adoption of data projects on the local government level by serving as a central resource for cities interested in this emerging field. We highlight best practices, top innovators, and promising case studies while also connecting leading industry, academic, and government officials. Our research focus is the intersection of government and data, ranging from open data and predictive analytics to civic engagement technology. We seek to promote the combination of integrated, cross-agency data with community data to better discover and preemptively address civic problems. To learn more visit us online and follow us on LinkedIn.
Gugs Mhlungu talks to Jerome Singh, clinical public health professor and legal scholar, serving as Principal Investigator of SAGE and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal about the growing threat of extreme heat and its impact on health, jobs, food security and nutrition. They also explore practical solutions, including creating cooling spaces, improving illness surveillance, and investing in greener, more climate-resilient communities through trees and accessible cooling infrastructure. Gugs Mhlungu gets you ready for the weekend each Saturday and Sunday morning on 702. She is your weekend wake-up companion, with all you need to know for your weekend. The topics Gugs covers range from lifestyle, family, health, and fitness to books, motoring, cooking, culture, and what is happening on the weekend in 702land. Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu. Listen live on Primedia+ on Saturdays and Sundays from 06:00 and 10:00 (SA Time) to Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/u3Sf7Zy or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/BIXS7AL Subscribe to the 702 daily and weekly newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, UBC's Associate Vice-President, Campus and Community Planning, Michael White, joins Carol and Jeevan to break down the SkyTrain to UBC project—the planned Millennium Line extension to UBC. Michael explains why the Broadway Subway Project is insufficient, how the Arbutus station will already be over capacity on day one, and why completing the line to UBC is the only real solution. He outlines the project's sweeping benefits: thousands of new housing units, major greenhouse gas reductions, and billions in economic opportunity. He also shares what it takes to align governments, nations, and communities around a shared vision—and why your voice matters.Links for this episodeTranscriptSkyTrain to UBC websiteLearn more about the UBCx planAbout Michael WhiteMario Canseco: Three in four Metro Vancouverites want SkyTrain extended to UBC, poll findsOpinion: UBC SkyTrain must be Metro Vancouver's next public transit priorityContact CarolContact JeevanFrom Here ForwardPodium Podcast Company (00:00) - Introduction (01:39) - Meet Michael White (02:02) - What is UBCx, why is it needed, and it's potential benefits (06:50) - Current project status & stakeholder groups (11:12) - The economic case for UBCx (12:33) - Addressing concerns (14:28) - The importance of effective up-front engagement (16:39) - Making planning personal (18:14) - What urban planners really do (19:40) - Work-life sustainability (20:44) - A listener call-to-action (22:05) - Conclusion
X: @simonedegale @americasrt1776 @ileaderssummit @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk @JTitMVirginia Join America's Roundtable radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with a guest from London, Great Britain - Simone de Gale, a Chartered Architect who qualified at the Architectural Association in Bedford Square, London. She has served on the Royal Institute of British Architects board as Honorary Treasurer and board trustee. Simone also engages with the Britain's Royal Family as her affiliation with organizations in the field of urban planning and architecture are connected to Kensington Palace, a royal residence situated within Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. She is the driving force behind SGA's Westminster based organization, an Award Winning Architecture Practice which operates in UK and internationally. Simone is shaping innovative architecture throughout London and Internationally. She has won many awards and accolades including the Winner 'Architect of the Year' Women in Construction. The conversation is focused on America and Britain's challenges and opportunities in the housing sector as a new generation and first home buyers face skyrocketing prices and fewer choices. We are also looking for solutions and best practices in the areas of urban planning, infrastructure and long-term growth. In April 2026 via AP: WASHINGTON (AP) — White House economists estimate the United States has a shortage of 10 million houses, according to a new report — and say regulatory cuts could lead to more construction to stabilize prices, increase home ownership and fuel faster economic growth. From a UK think tank: New analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies reveals that the UK has a shortage of 6.5 million homes when compared to similar European countries. Britain has just 446 homes per 1,000 people, the second worst rate in Europe. This compares to 560 in France, 516 in Germany, and a European average of 542. americasrt.com https://ileaderssummit.org/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 X: @simonedegale @ileaderssummit @americasrt1776 @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk @JTitMVirginia America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable radio program focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 68 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Tune into WTON in Central Virginia on Sunday mornings at 9:30 A.M. (ET). Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm
Global volatility hasn't pushed commercial real estate investing into a crisis — it's having the opposite effect, Chad Lavender, Newmark's president of capital markets in North America, said on this week's show.Optimism around economic growth is keeping borrowers optimistic that income streams will grow, even if interest rates don't sink. There is no wave of distress on the horizon because debt markets are “almost insatiable,” Lavender said.Despite private credit continuing to grow, bank lending opening up at pre-Covid levels and investors increasingly drawn to hard asset in uncertain times, that doesn't mean windfalls are around the corner or sales activity is about explode.“We know where stuff's going to price, that doesn't mean a seller wants to sell it there,” Lavender said.
Fish Hoek has been used as example for why it's not good to have store with off-site consumption alcohol licences. Lester Kiewit speaks to Councillor Simon Liell-Cock, Sub Council Chair for Fish Hoek to see how valid this comparison it. Liell-Cock unpacks how off-consumption alcohol licences impacted the community— from safety concerns to economic arguments — and whether residents really have a say. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Co-author Patrick McKenna speaks to John Maytham on CapeTalk about 50 Years On: The Marina da Gama Story, revisiting the original 1970s vision to transform Zandvlei into South Africa’s first major marina residential development. He explores how the Anglo American-backed project was intended to include a yacht harbour, hotels and leisure infrastructure, why it was ultimately scaled back after the company withdrew in 1975, and what Marina da Gama might have looked like if the full plan had been realised along Cape Town’s False Bay coastline. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Host Allison Rosland and IDEA Executive Director Sean Sedgwick sit down with Edmonton's mayor Andrew Knack for a discussion about his vision for the city, what inspires him and his perspectives on infill. Biography: Andrew Knack was elected in October 2025 as the 37th Mayor of Edmonton. Born in Edmonton and raised west of the city in Spruce Grove, Andrew returned to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta, where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce in 2002. Inspired by local advocacy through his roles on the Meadowlark and Jasper Park Community League boards, Knack ran for Councillor for Ward Nakota Isga (formerly Ward 1) and was elected in 2013. He served three terms as a Councillor and is best known for his work to secure improved transit and amenities for west end neighbourhoods. Knack has also served on the Alberta Municipalities Executive Committee and as Council's representative on the Accessibility Advisory Committee, the City of Edmonton Youth Council, the Edmonton Transit System Advisory Board, and the Edmonton Public Library Board.In this term, Mayor Knack's focus is on affordability, safety, economic development, and strengthening the support needed to build a stronger Edmonton together.
Plan Dulce Hosts Vidal F. Márquez (he/him) and Haydee Urita-Lopez (she/her/hers) interview Norma E. Fernandez (she/her), CEO of Everyone On, a national nonprofit advancing digital opportunity by expanding access to affordable internet, reliable devices, and practical digital skills. Join us for this two-part conversation in English and Spanish as we learn about what it means to create digital inclusion opportunities and programs and how we can support communities with limited access to new technologies and education. Bio and Links:Norma E. Fernandez is the CEO of Everyone On, a national nonprofit advancing digital opportunity by expanding access to affordable internet, reliable devices, and practical digital skills. She joined Everyone On in 2013 to build its Los Angeles presence and became CEO in late 2019, leading the organization through significant growth—diversifying the board, doubling staff, and raising more than $10 million. Under her leadership, Everyone On launched its Digital Skills Academy, trained more than 6,000 people, supported the distribution of thousands of computers to income-insecure households nationwide, and expanded advocacy efforts. Norma has been featured in outlets including the LA Times, NPR affiliates, TIME Magazine, and Univision, and serves on the FCC's Communications Equity and Diversity Council. She holds a. B.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA.Links and Resourceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/normaefernandez/ https://www.everyoneon.org/ From Fear to Confidence: The Digital Skills Journey of Underserved Women, https://www.everyoneon.org/digitalskillsjourney --------------------------------------Plan Dulce is a podcast by members of the Latinos and Planning Division of the American Planning Association. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only. Want to recommend our next great guests and stay updated on the latest episodes? We want to hear from you! Follow, rate, and subscribe! Your support and feedback helps us continue to amplify insightful and inspiring stories from our wonderfully culturally and professionally diverse community.This episode was conceived, written, and produced by Haydee Urita-Lopez (she/her/hers), Michelle E. Zuñiga, PhD, AICP (she/her/hers) and co-produced and hosted by Vidal F. Márquez (he/him).Connect:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/plandulcepodcast/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/LatinosandPlanning/Youtube:Subscribe to Plan Dulce on Youtube LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4294535/X/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/latinosplanapa?lang=en—----
Only 0.5% of U.S. land works for large-scale data center development.On this episode of First Draft Live, Tract President and Tract Capital managing director Graham Williams, whose firm is behind some of the biggest data center developments in the country, breaks down why power, water, a shrinking skilled workforce and rising regulation and public backlash are making viable sites surprisingly difficult to find.
Multifamily is under pressure from every direction, and yet it is still expected to fix America's housing crisis.A record wave of new supply has hit the market, pushing vacancy higher and rent growth flat or negative in several Sun Belt metros. At the same time, Washington is turning up the heat, with voices like Sen. Elizabeth Warren targeting institutional ownership and the Federal Trade Commission applying new scrutiny to rental fees.But with the bulk of the supply tsunami behind us, could 2026 be the turnaround year? Or will it be just another step in a longer reset? On this episode of First Draft Live, Bisnow sits down with Bob Hart, president and CEO of TruAmerica Multifamily, to break down where the market actually stands, where capital is flowing and how investors are making the math work in a sector caught between rising pressure and uncertain recovery.
How much of what architects claim they value actually shows up in how they practice, especially when it comes to community engagement?In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee is joined by the leadership team from Architects Fora: Leah Alissa Bayer (President), Kate Conley and Sarah Vaccaro (Principals), and Nicole Little (Community Engagement Lead). Together, they pull back the curtain on how their firm successfully transitioned community engagement from a nebulous, often pro-bono "extra" into a structured, billable service called Engage Fora. Nicole, whose dual background in architecture and urban planning drives this initiative, shares how she leveraged the firm's unique 20% research-and-passion-time policy to build a full-service practice area that bridges the gap between design and the people it serves.The conversation explores the internal mechanics of a firm that prioritizes "slow-burn" hiring and deep value alignment. Leah, Kate, and Sarah discuss the intentionality behind their remote-first structure and how they empower staff to pursue professional convictions that move the needle for the entire industry. Nicole reflects on her personal history, growing up in housing that actively harmed her family's health, and how that experience became the professional catalyst for ensuring that community voices are not just heard, but are fundamentally integrated into the architectural process through a sustainable business model."I think our role as young professionals is to bring in that fresh new perspective. To be disruptive and change the field for the better." - Nicole LittleThis episode is a masterclass in aligning firm operations with personal and professional convictions. The team breaks down the logistical challenge of building a community engagement practice from the ground up, including how to define its value to clients who may be used to traditional, top-down delivery methods. Whether you are a firm leader looking to restructure your internal research time or a young architect wondering how to bring your social justice passions into a corporate environment, this discussion provides a tangible framework for creating a practice that is both disruptive and highly effective.Guests:Leah Alissa Bayer is the President of Architects Fora, a fully remote, women-led firm. She is a dedicated advocate for business innovation and equity within the profession, focusing on how firm structures can better support diverse talent and restorative design.Kate Conley and Sarah Vaccaro are Principals at Architects Fora, where they lead complex housing and community-focused projects. They are instrumental in fostering a firm culture that balances rigorous project delivery with a commitment to internal research and professional growth.Nicole Little is the Community Engagement Lead at Architects Fora. With dual master's degrees in Architecture and Urban Planning, she spearheads "Engage Fora," a practice area dedicated to deep, systematic community involvement in the design process.This episode is especially for you if:✅ You want to move beyond "check-the-box" community engagement and learn how to build it into a billable service.✅ You are interested in firm models that dedicate a percentage of staff time to research, pro-bono work, and professional passions.✅ You are a young professional with a dual-degree background looking for ways to integrate multiple disciplines into a single career path.✅ You want to understand how to align your personal values with the project work and operations of your firm.✅ You are curious about how a remote-first office can foster a deep sense of community and collaborative leadership.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.
AI will transform how we work in the built environment, yet there are still more questions than answers, and many feel unprepared for what comes next. In this episode, Dr Tim Williams speaks with Tom Sanchez, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University, and author of Artificial Intelligence for Urban Planning. He offers a clear and practical roadmap for urbanists navigating this shift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jerold S. Kayden is an urban planner and lawyer serving as the Frank Backus Williams Professor of Urban Planning and Design at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. His teaching and scholarship address issues of land use and environmental law, public and private development in cities, public space, urban disasters, and climate change. Kayden joins our host, Charles Waldheim, to discuss his role as the founding director of the new Master in Real Estate Program at the GSD.
Susan VanBenschoten, IMEG Director of Urban Design, Planning, and Engagement, joins host Joe Payne to discuss the expansive services and expertise of her team. With 40 years of experience in the community planning and civil infrastructure industry, Susan previously was CEO of FHI Studio, a large planning firm in the Northeast that joined IMEG in 2024, bringing a new service line to the firm. She frames urban planning as the critical foundation upon which successful infrastructure and community outcomes are built. This early-stage focus, she says, defines what a project is before it advances into design, policy, or implementation. “Urban design and planning is really an umbrella of dozens of different services that are integrated during the planning process,” she explains. These services reside in five major groups: transportation planning, engineering, and design; community planning, land planning, and urban design; environmental planning, resiliency planning, and permitting; landscape architecture; and community engagement—which is, Susan adds, “part and parcel to all the rest of the planning that we do.” These services are used in various combinations, based on the needs of a project, and operate as an interconnected system. “Planning is very broad and by its nature needs to be multidisciplinary,” Susan says, emphasizing the importance of aligning technical, environmental, and social considerations from the outset. Central to this process is problem definition—often more complex than it initially appears. “You're really backing up to the very beginning of a problem,” Susan says. Whether addressing congestion, land use, or economic challenges, her team relies on data analysis paired with direct community input. “We really try to use data-driven analysis to understand what the problem really is but also listen to the community so we understand what they see the problem is.” While traditional public meetings and outreach continue to be conducted, technology has expanded the reach and effectiveness of community engagement. “We still hold meetings. We still do walkabouts—walking through communities and seeing firsthand what some of the issues are.” Technology, however, has created ways to involve more of the community with virtual meetings, online surveys, and virtual reality, which allows “people to visualize what we are talking about.” Depending on the project, this process can result in a comprehensive “roadmap,” particularly in large-scale or area-wide planning efforts. Such a roadmap can include dozens of recommendations, ranging from immediate actions to long-term capital investments. Importantly, such plans are not static documents. “Planning documents are living documents,” Susan says, evolving alongside the communities they serve. Susan and her team are eager to expand their work across the U.S., collaborating with IMEG's civil infrastructure and MEP teams to bring more value and successful outcomes to clients. “That's the power of having planning and engineering and design all under one roof,” she says. “It's very much in line with IMEG's purpose of shaping and making better communities.” Learn more about IMEG's Urban Design, Planning, & Engagement services.
As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores how rapid population growth is reshaping the state — and what it will take to manage that growth successfully over the next decade. In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail is joined by Henry Cisneros, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former mayor of San Antonio, and A.J. Rodriguez, Executive Vice President at Texas 2036, for a deep dive into the rise of Texas “mega regions” — particularly the fast-growing Austin–San Antonio corridor. With Texas now exceeding 31 million residents and continuing to grow rapidly, the conversation focuses on how interconnected metropolitan regions — including the broader Texas Triangle — are becoming the true drivers of economic growth, population expansion, and global competitiveness. Cisneros and Rodriguez explain that Texas is no longer defined primarily by rural or energy-based economies, but by large, dynamic urban regions producing the majority of the state's GDP. They argue that the key challenge ahead is not whether Texas will grow — but whether leaders can plan effectively to manage that growth. The discussion also covers: • The rise of the Austin–San Antonio mega region and the broader Texas Triangle • Why regional collaboration — not city-by-city planning — is critical to future success • Housing affordability challenges and the risks of underbuilding • Water supply, infrastructure gaps, and long-term sustainability concerns • Transportation bottlenecks, congestion, and the need for rail and mobility innovation • Workforce development, education, and closing the postsecondary attainment gap • Economic mobility, poverty challenges, and the importance of human capital investment • Lessons from other global regions that failed — or succeeded — in managing growth The conversation highlights a central theme: Texas is at a pivotal moment. With the right planning, coordination, and investment, it could become one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world — but failure to act could lead to congestion, affordability crises, and missed opportunity. Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brings together diverse perspectives as we explore the opportunities and challenges facing our state over the next ten years. The views expressed in this program are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Texas 2036, its staff or its Board of Directors. 00:00 — Introduction to Texas growth and the Future of Texas series 00:25 — Texas population growth and rise of mega regions 01:15 — Guests introduced: Henry Cisneros and A.J. Rodriguez 02:01 — Urbanization and the Texas Triangle explained 03:36 — Why Texas growth is inevitable — and what's at stake 05:09 — Regionalism and planning for 2036 population growth 06:18 — Austin–San Antonio mega region and regional identity 08:14 — Economic power of Texas metro regions 09:44 — Texas as a global economic competitor 10:38 — Collaboration vs competition between cities 11:32 — Infrastructure challenges: transportation and congestion 16:11 — Water supply risks and long-term planning 18:43 — Housing affordability and supply challenges 22:08 — Economic mobility and poverty concerns 25:02 — Workforce development and education gaps 29:00 — Need for regional coordination and governance structures 32:04 — Rail, mobility innovation, and future transportation 37:00 — Role of state government and policy coordination 41:34 — Lessons from other regions that failed to plan 45:13 — Global competition and Texas's economic potential 52:17 — Preparing the workforce for AI and future jobs 54:56 — What Texas must focus on before 2036 57:04 — Final vision: what Texas could become if done right Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks
Are architects going to figure out startups first, or will startups figure out architecture first?In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee is joined by Bryan Boyer, founding director of the Bachelor of Science in Urban Technology at the University of Michigan's Taubman College and Faculty Director of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, and Larry Fabbroni, architect and innovator, to discuss the critical crossroads facing the built environment. With roughly 165 companies currently vying to sell technology into the AECO supply chain, Bryan and Larry explore the innovation gap in an industry that remains significantly under-innovated compared to analogous sectors. They advocate for a radical shift in architectural education and practice, one that equips architects with the entrepreneurial vocabulary and venture design skills needed to lead the companies of the future.The conversation delves into the rise of Urban Technology and why it is essential for architects to understand the startup and capital landscape. Bryan shares the mission behind his first-of-its-kind degree program, which prepares students to manage the complexity of cities through a lens of product and service design, and explains how that work has evolved into a new master's degree program launching through UMCI, a $250 million innovation hub opening in downtown Detroit in fall 2027. Larry discusses the intimidation many architects feel when entering the startup world and the importance of providing them with the resources to move from passive employees of tech companies to founders and leaders who actually define how our built environment is delivered. "The fastest moving teams are gonna be the ones who have individuals with those deep knowledge expertise, who have the knowledge across the domains and can collaborate with each other faster and better." - Larry Fabbroni This episode is a deep dive into the tension between traditional practice and the rapid influx of venture-backed technology. Brian and Larry break down the mechanics of the "professional intensive" they are building to bridge the gap between design thinking and business innovation. Whether you are curious about the intersection of cities and technology or looking to bring a more entrepreneurial mindset to your own career, this discussion offers a roadmap for architects to reclaim their seat at the head of the table in the digital age.Guests:Brian Boyer is the founding director of the Bachelor of Science in Urban Technology at the University of Michigan's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and Faculty Director of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit (UMCI), a $250 million initiative bringing multidisciplinary graduate education and workforce development to downtown Detroit. A designer and educator with a background in strategic design and urban informatics, Bryan has spent his career exploring how technology and design can be leveraged to improve the quality of urban life and governance.Larry Fabbroni is an architect with over two decades in practice. He formerly led master planning projects at Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects and Strada Architecture, working on some of the largest development projects in the U.S. Today, he serves as a consultant specializing in strategic pre-development services and as CIO for the Practice of Architecture. Larry earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he focused on entrepreneurship and strategy.This episode is especially for you if:✅ You are curious about the "Urban Tech" landscape and why it is a critical new frontier for architectural practice.✅ You want to understand why the housing sector is considered "10 times under-innovated" and how architects can change that.✅ You are interested in how architecture schools are evolving to teach venture design and entrepreneurial leadership.✅ You are an architect looking to expand your professional vocabulary to include startups, scale-ups, and venture capital.✅ You want to hear a strategic perspective on whether architects will lead the next generation of tech companies or simply work for them.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.
This was supposed to be commercial real estate's year. The industry entered 2026 expecting interest rates to fall, liquidity to rise, and for long-stalled transactions to finally put the pedal to the metal. For a while, it seemed as though CRE would finally be experiencing a true recovery from the massive hit it took during the pandemic.But today, things are looking a little shakier. Global instability surrounding the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran has escalated tariff and trade tensions. Meanwhile, $1.2T in real estate loans are expected to mature by 2027, a significant amount of which were originated when borrowing costs were much lower.On this episode, Greg Friedman, CEO of Peachtree Group, one of the most active private credit platforms in CRE, breaks down the impacts as it stands today.
On this show we feature the late writer and activist Mike Davis, who dabbled as an “urban historian,” who took on geography, politics, economics, sociology and literature. His focus was the dislocation and separation brought on by capitalist society: people from land, work from ownership, individuals from each other, all in the service of profit. And he showed how this dislocation resulted in climate, environmental, and social disasters. His solution was communities connecting together and to the land. Mike Davis was a true intellectual visionary, who was down to get into the streets and walk his talk. I met Mike Davis as a graduate student when he taught at UCLA in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning. At the time, he was writing his incendiary and prophetic shadowing of the social and environmental calamities that the city of Los Angeles, and our world at large, continues to face. We begin with an introduction of Mike Davis and will come back to a question and answer by Vijay Prashad, an Indian Marxist historian and commentator. This is from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst History Department Feinberg Lecture Series from 2020. We also feature a lecture by Mike Davis about his book Planet of Slums, which investigates the increasing inequality of the urban world. According to the U.N., more than one billion people now live in extreme poverty in mega-cities facing environmental and social collapse from perpetual and worsening climate disruptions. Mike Davis explores the meaning and the future of this radically unequal and unstable urban world. The Planet of Slums lecture comes from a talk given at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, in 2015. For an extended interview and other benefits, become an EcoJustice Radio patron at https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio Mike Davis, [https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/news/5214-the-works-of-mike-davis] who passed away in 2022, was a writer, political activist, urban theorist, and historian based in Southern California. Once a meat cutter and a truck driver, he was Professor Emeritus at University of California, Riverside, a Macarthur Fellow, and the author of more than 20 books. He is best known for his investigations of power and social class in works such as City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles (1990) and Late Victorian Holocausts (2001). Jack Eidt is an urban planner, environmental journalist, and climate organizer, as well as award-winning fiction writer. He is Co-Founder of SoCal 350 Climate Action and Executive Producer of EcoJustice Radio. He writes for a PBS SoCal Artbound project called High & Dry [https://www.pbssocal.org/people/high-dry]. He is also Founder and Publisher of WilderUtopia [https://wilderutopia.com], a website dedicated to the question of Earth sustainability, finding society-level solutions to environmental, community, economic, transportation and energy needs. He also publishes articles and podcasts on Substack [https://jackeidt.substack.com/]. MORE INFO https://www.perennialroots.com/media Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/ Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/ Support the Podcast: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LBGXTRM292TFC&source=url Executive Producer and Intro: Jack Eidt Engineer and Original Music: Blake Quake Beats Episode 171 Photo credit: Annie Wells, LA Times
Welcome to part 2 of our two-part series on sounds of cities. In this episode we focus on how the sounds of cities have influenced and inspired art and culture, including some of the most famous musicians of this generation. We get into Billie Eilish, Adele, Aminé, Dr. Dre, Kendrik Lamar, and more! Find a playlist below that will add to the listening of this episode. Feel free to listen before, after, or during the episode.Playlist:Bad Guy - Billie Eilish (song)Rumour Has It - Adele (song)Hong Kong musician (video)Good Kid, M.A.A.D City - Kendrik Lamar (album)Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar & 50 Cent FULL Pepsi SB LVI Halftime Show (video)Woodlawn - Aminé (music video)Symphony in D: A Symphony for Detroit, by Detroit (video)Metro Manners PSA: Super Kind - Eating イーティング (video)Additional Resources:Finneas Reveals Everyday Sounds Hidden in "Bury a Friend" and "Bad Guy"Why does music bring back memories, what the science saysWant to be a part of the podcast? Send in an email! The team behind the upcoming Better Planners podcast wants to hear from you about the real life issues you handle as a planner. What are the honest, gritty, wicked problems you find yourself managing? To share your experiences, email betterplannerspodcast@gmail.com Your message might end up in one of the upcoming podcast episodes. You can be as anonymous or as identifiable as you want. Where to find us:Website: https://oregon.planning.org/community/betterplannerspodcast/Instagram: @betterplanners
Do people really like our all-enveloping autocentric system quite as much as everyone keeps saying they do? What kind of communities would they live in if given the choice? The answers, as a new study shows, are not exactly what so many of us have been told. Nearly one in five American car owners is "strongly interested" in living car-free, and another 40 percent are open to the idea. We talked about the implications of that study with its authors, Nicole Corcoran, Deborah Salon, and Hue-Tam Jamme, researchers at the Arizona State University School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning in Tempe. Check out their research. Join The War on Cars on Patreon and listen to exclusive ad-free versions of regular episodes, Patreon-only bonus content, Discord access, invitations to live events, merch discounts and free stickers! Order our new book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, out now from Thesis, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Find us on tour and get tickets at lifeaftercars.com. Thanks to Upway for sponsoring this episode. Use this link and save $100 off any order of $800 or more with the code TWOC100. Thanks also to Cleverhood. Listen to this episode for the latest discount code and get 15% off the best rain gear for walking and cycling. The War on Cars is produced with support from the Helen and William Mazer Foundation. TheWarOnCars.org
How could Canada—and Ontario in particular—have done rail transit better? Navigating Major Programmes never shies away from the controversial takes. In this episode, Riccardo takes to the mic with multi-disciplinary rail strategist and longtime industry builder Michael Schabas. Their candid, deeply informed conversation delves deep into what has gone awry in Canadian transit planning and what it would take to get it right.Michael traces his path from a childhood fascination with trains to a career spanning architecture, transport planning, railway operations, and major infrastructure consulting. Along the way, he helped build and lead rail businesses in the UK and Australia, consistently proving that well-run passenger rail can be both high-performing and financially viable. That global experience shapes his perspective on Ontario's railway decisions. He argues that too many projects have suffered from poor technology choices, weak route selection, and procurement strategies that don't match the true complexity of this infrastructure solution.Throughout his conversation with Riccardo, Michael also reflects on what Canadian builders have learned, the reality of Toronto's ongoing and overdue electrification project, and why high-speed rail is the answer the country too often avoids. This wide-ranging look at rail infrastructure questions long-held assumptions and challenges decision-makers to never stop learning when it comes to public transportation projects.Key TakeawaysRecovering from the rushed and ill-informed decision-making that lead to costly transit mistakes;The potential for well-run passenger rail to grow ridership and improve financial performance;How technology, route, and operating strategy choices shape transit outcomes;Why past LRT decisions failed to deliver the speed and rider benefits promised;How greenfield thinking and the right corridor strategy could change the future of high-speed rail in Canada.Quote:“If you've seen one railway, you've seen one railway. Every railway's different.” - Michael SchabasThe conversation doesn't stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/ Read Riccardo's latest at www.riccardocosentino.com Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/ Follow Michael Schabas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelschabas/ Buy Michael's book, “The Railway Metropolis”: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/the-railway-metropolis-how-planners-politicians-and-developers-shaped-modern-london/9780727761804.html
This episode of First Draft Live is presented by Agora.The meteoric rise of artificial intelligence has impacted every industry, including the notoriously tech-adverse commercial real estate world.Scores of new AI-driven tools have left brokers sweating over their commissions and wondering if they will be replaced by software that can automate underwriting and surface buyers instantly. And shareholders have been ditching their brokerage stock over concerns the entire business model is at risk. Are their fears overblown, or should brokers be preparing themselves for a future where AI could take their jobs?Both can be true, Kyle Matthews, CEO of Matthews CRE, said on this week's episode.“I absolutely think there is an overreaction happening,” Matthews said. “And I think there are 100% vulnerabilities, and the nature and the shape of how these services are performed in the next three, five and 10 years, fundamentally, will change.”
In this episode, I connect with Jacob Davis, host of The Cities in Motion Podcast, for a discussion about what led him to want to host an urbanism and sustainable communities podcast that channels the tenets of the Strong Towns and Active Towns movements. We also profile the opening of the new Wishbone Bridge, which closes a critical gap on the Butler Hike & Bike Trail around Ladybird Lake in Austin, TX.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
This is the recording of my Live discussion with Charles “Chuck” Marohn, Founder and President of Strong Towns, about their Mission Accomplished: End Highway Expansions Now initiative, and what we as a nation and at the local level should be focusing our transportation dollars on.For more information:
This episode is presented by Agora.The federal government is poised to enact legislation to make housing development easier.But federal desire does not always translate to local action — and that is where construction actually happens, said Continental Properties Chairman and CEO James Schloemer, who just concluded a two-year term as chairman of the National Multifamily Housing Council.“There are a lot of issues at the local level,” he said. “Between NIMBYs, ... issues regarding building codes and being [too] short-staffed to expedite the necessary permitting and inspections, there are a lot of challenges not correlated to things that the federal government influences.”
In this episode, I reconnect with a dear friend from my Boulder triathlon days, Dieter Bruhn, and his relatively new wife, Grace. We discuss the Hanoi dance scene and contrast the culture of activity in Vietnam with Boulder, Colorado.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
Florentina Craciun is an urban planner with over 16 years of experience in environmental compliance. As a Senior Planner at LSA , she guides agencies and private clients through CEQA for projects like housing and commercial developments, historic building adaptive reuse, and public infrastructure. Florentina earned her Master's in Urban Planning from UCLA with an emphasis on environmental planning. Since then, she's worked to bridge graduate school ideals with real-world practice—making environmental planning more accessible through teaching CEQA courses, mentorship, and championing streamlined processes. And for over a decade, Florentina served on the APA Northern Section Board, with roles from Membership Director to Awards Co-Director. Florentina has done this while pursuing her vision of transforming environmental planning from a "can't do" barrier into a "can-do" tool for building more just communities.
This is the Livestream recording of my Follow-Up Conversation with Prof. Wes Marshall, about his impactful book Killed By A Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies our Transportation System. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
Guest: Dr. Younes Alila, University of British ColumbiaFloods are some of the most devastating natural disasters on Earth—washing away homes, reshaping landscapes, and testing the limits of our infrastructure. But what if the way we measure and plan for floods is decades out of date? A new study out of the University of British Columbia led by Dr. Younes Alila reveals that the so-called “100-year flood” may now be striking every 10 years or less across parts of British Columbia. Dr. Alila joins us to unpack how land-use changes, deforestation, and a warming climate are amplifying flood frequency, why natural features like wetlands and forests are key to protection, and what communities can do to adapt.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, I connect with Diane Alisa Tuft, author of A Love Letter to Suburbia: How to Restore the American Village, to discuss her journey into urbanism and her advocacy for walkable communities and the return of villages. As part of this journey, we discuss how a specific Not Just Bikes video opened her eyes to what was making her so frustrated and miserable. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
January 22, 2026 - During the first segment Vernon interviews Stacey Sutton, PhD., Associate Professor of Urban Planning & Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago. Dr Sutton and Vernon will discuss how cooperatives and solidarity economies can transform cities and advance racial and economic justice. In the second segment Vernon will discuss the relationship between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s moral and economic philosophy, the African humanist principle of Ubuntu, and the role of cooperative economics in advancing what Dr. King described as the Beloved Community. Stacey Sutton, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she also directs the Solidarity Economy Research, Policy & Law Project and serves as Director of Applied Research and Strategic Partnerships for UIC's Social Justice Initiative. Her work focuses on community economic development, economic democracy, worker-owned cooperatives, solidarity economies, and racial and economic justice. Dr. Sutton's research explores how local governments and grassroots movements can support cooperative ownership and equitable economic systems, as well as how punitive urban policies disproportionately affect marginalized communities. She is the author of research on “cooperative cities” and leads the Real Black Utopias project examining Black-centered solidarity economy ecosystems. Dr. Sutton holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Sociology from Rutgers University, an MBA from New York University, an MS from the New School for Social Research, and a BA from Loyola University.
In this episode, I reconnect with Carter Lavin for an in-depth discussion about his new book, If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
How does a bird experience a city? A backyard? A park? As the world has become more urban, noisier from increased traffic, and brighter from streetlights and office buildings, it has also become more dangerous for countless species of birds. In The Bird-Friendly City, Timothy Beatley, a longtime advocate for intertwining the built and natural environments, takes readers on a global tour of cities that are reinventing the status quo with birds in mind. Efforts span a fascinating breadth of approaches: public education, urban planning and design, habitat restoration, architecture, art, civil disobedience, and more. Also check out...Biophilic CitiesThe Promise of Bird-Friendly CitiesSupport the showConnect with me at... GoodReads: Hannah Buschert IG: @HannahgoesbirdingFacebook: @HannahandErikGoBirdingEmail us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.comGet a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB
The European Union has officially and metaphorically switched on the IRIS2 secure satellite communications network, the homegrown 10.6 billion Euro European alternative to Starlink. ESA and EUMETSAT have finalized their agreement on the EPS-Sterna constellation. Planet Labs has signed a new agreement with the Surveying and Mapping Authority of Slovenia, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Les Lake, Vice President of Business Development at All Points Logistics. You can connect with Les on LinkedIn, and learn more about All Points Logistics on their website. Selected Reading EU Deploys First Satellite Service in Bid to Limit US Dependence (Bloomberg) EU space agency signs contract to launch Galileo satellites with Ariane 6 (Reuters) EUMETSAT and ESA set to start the implementation of EPS-Sterna (EUMETSAT) Planet Signs Enterprise Agreement with Slovenian Government to Support Agriculture, Urban Planning and Disaster Management (Business Wire) NASA lines up WDR for SLS ahead of Artemis II (NSF) NASA Launches Its Most Powerful, Efficient Supercomputer (NASA) ESA's Biomass goes live with data now open to all (ESA) Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode of First Draft Live is presented by Agora.Venezuela, Greenland, Canada's prime minister calling the death of America as global leader. Interest rate watching, Fed independence under question, tariffs.There's a lot of noise out there in the macroeconomy that can make it hard for CRE to tune into a good deal.And yet Abbe Franchot Borok, BGO managing director and head of U.S. debt, said she is optimistic the year ahead will be a good one for property investment.Sure, it has gotten more complicated and the industry has had to turn to new inputs and data sources. The normal supply vs. demand dynamic is changing as consumer use of commercial real estate has shifted.And yes, she said, Canadian and European investors are not liking what they are seeing out of the U.S. government.But the U.S. continues to be the most liquid and active market in the world, and she doesn't see a sustained lack of investment in the cards. Good deals are out there for those willing to double down on income generation and executing the business plan on the ground.
In this episode, I connect with Esther Walker, Executive Director of Outride, a non-profit launched by Specialized Bicycles with the mission of providing research, cycling programs, and funding to empower all people to experience the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of cycling.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
Welcome to another episode from the Better Planners Podcast brought to you by the Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association. This episode is part 1 of a 2-part series on sounds of cities, both the good and the bad. In this episode we focus on the negative impacts of sounds on cities, especially around noise pollution. What is the definition of noise pollution, who is responsible for creating regulation, and why are certain sounds regulated and others not? We'll also discuss the health impacts sound has on humans and then what inventive ways are cities dealing with noise pollution. Where can planners play a role and what tools already exist out there? Research:Noise Control Act of 1972Noise pollution: more attention is neededConducting a Case Study: Brooklyn Bridge ParkIntegrating soundscape in urban design, planning and landscapeWant to be a part of the podcast? Send in an email! The team behind the upcoming Better Planners podcast wants to hear from you about the real life issues you handle as a planner. What are the honest, gritty, wicked problems you find yourself managing? To share your experiences, email betterplannerspodcast@gmail.com Your message might end up in one of the upcoming podcast episodes. You can be as anonymous or as identifiable as you want. Where to find us:Website: https://oregon.planning.org/community/betterplannerspodcast/Instagram: @betterplanners
Today I am happy to speak with Ananya Roy and Veronika Zablotsky about their co-edited volume, Beyond Sanctuary: The Humanism of a World in Motion, which was based on a Sawyer Seminar they convened at UCLA. The essays collected in this book are international in scope and interdisciplinary in nature. What links them is a commitment to show that the idea of sanctuary all too often forgets its radical histories and possibilities, and lapses into a liberal humanism that not only does not solve the problems of refugees, migrants, and exiles, but even form obstacles to real and just solutions. Importantly, the many of the essays put the idea of “humanism” into question. Most impressively, we find case histories of ordinary people building sanctuary spaces organically well outside, and even in defiance of, liberal sanctuary structures and practices. The book is accompanied by digital materials on the Sanctuary Spaces website which are designed for classroom use and self-study: https://challengeinequality.luskin.ucla.edu/sanctuary-spaces/ Ananya Roy is Professor of Urban Planning, Social Welfare, and Geography and the Meyer and Renee Luskin Chair in Inequality and Democracy at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the founding Faculty Director of the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy at UCLA, which advances research and scholarship concerned with displacement and dispossession in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the world. Working with social movements, the Institute seeks to build power and abolish structures of inequality, within and beyond the university. A scholar of global racial capitalism, Ananya's research has focused on urban transformations and land grabs, global circuits of financialization, postcolonial development and projects of poverty management, and most recently the problem and promise of sanctuary. In comradeship with unhoused communities, her current research is concerned with racial banishment and counter-geographies of refusal and rebellion in Los Angeles.Veronika Zablotsky is a political theorist with an interest in interconnected histories of migration and empire; feminist and postcolonial studies; transnational social movements; Armenian diaspora studies; and postsocialism in the SWANA region. She teaches in the Department of Philosophy at Freie Universität Berlin and held visiting professorships in politics and gender studies at universities in Germany. Previously she served as Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Sawyer Seminar “Sanctuary Spaces: Reworlding Humanism” at the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy. She holds a PhD in feminist studies, politics, critical race and ethnic studies, and history of consciousness from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Among her co-edited publications are the anthologies Decolonize the City! (Unrast, 2017) and Transforming Solidarities (Adocs, 2025). At the University of Pennsylvania she co-founded the Critical Armenian Studies Collective. She also organizes with the scholar activist collective Abolition Beyond Borders (www.abolitionismus.org).
In this on-bike interview, I connect with Ryan Short, founder of CivicBrand, for a tour around Boulder while we discuss his new book, The Civic Brand: The Power and Responsibility of Place.Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
The University Hill Farms neighborhood is one of my favorite parts of my home town and in today's episode I'll be your tour guide! It's on the national historic register and boasts a concentration of great mid-century including one designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. And, while I love the homes, there are a whole bunch of elements that make the neighborhood great. In Today's Episode You'll Hear:Why mid-century neighborhoods are sometimes less great than the houses located there. How University Hill Farms has stayed great over time. Which elements make University Hill Farms, and neighborhoods like it, great.Get the full show notes with all the trimmings at https://www.midmod-midwest.com/2302Like and subscribe at Apple | Spotify | YouTube. Want us to create your mid-century master plan? Apply here! Or get my course, Ready to Remodel.
In this episode, I finally connect with Mara Mintzer, co-founder and executive director of Growing Up Boulder, for a conversation about the power of engaging children in community conversations like planning and design that for too long have been left primarily or exclusively to adults. Helpful Links (note that some may include affiliate links to help me support the channel):
What is the real importance of understanding architectural history, and how is its teaching different from the histories of other disciplines? How can good design influence business decisions?Witold Rybczynski is an emeritus professor in the Weitzman School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the author of several books on architecture and its history. His most recent titles have been The Driving Machine: A Design History of the Car, Now I Sit Me Down: From Klismos to Plastic Chair: A Natural History, Mysteries of the Mall: And Other Essays, and The Story of Architecture.Greg and Witold discuss Witold's extensive work on various topics, including the present state and histories of architecture, urban planning, and design. Their conversation covers the cultural valuation of architecture versus fine arts, the historical impact of city planning and urban design in the United States, and the unique characteristics of American cities compared to how cities and urban planning happens in European countries. They also get into the interplay of style and function in car design based in the research from Witold's new book.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.* Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Episode 068: 2022 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award Winners: RIDING THE VORTEXWhat lessons on architecture, practice, and change can we learn from AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award Recipients Kathryn Prigmore, Kathy Dixon, Katherine Williams, and Melissa Daniel?Named for civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr., the AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Honor Award distinguishes an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access. Architects and design leaders Kathryn Tyler Prigmore, FAIA; Kathy Denise Dixon, FAIA; Katherine Williams, AIA; and Melissa R. Daniel, Assoc. AIA are the winners of this year's award for their leadership in advancing educational programming to support and increase the number of people of color licensed to practice architecture in the U.S.According to the American Institute of Architects, “The number of practicing African-American architects had been a stagnant 2% in recent decades. In the early 1990s, there were just 1,800 licensed African-American architects in the country, and only 30 of them were women. As of the summer of 2021, those numbers have grown to 2,435 and 533, respectively, and VORTEX has been a major catalyst in the 254% growth in African-American women architects.”This episode includes the stories of the VORTEX collaborators, as well as a candid discussion about their careers, what inspires them, and their work to build this program.Guests:Kathryn Prigmore, FAIA, NOMAC, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, CDT is an architect, educator, and design practice leader with an inimitable understanding of the dynamics that impact the management of firms from the perspective of an architect, academic, and regulator. She has over 40 years of design and management experience for award-winning architectural projects of a wide range of sizes, types and delivery methods executed for private and public clients within diverse practice environments. Her academic leadership includes teaching experience in sustainable design. As an award-winning strategic thinker and planner, she is also a leader in regulatory issues and professional ethics. Kathryn is skilled at growing staff into leaders.Kathy Denise Dixon was born in Baltimore and grew up in Harford County, Maryland. She is a graduate of Howard University School of Architecture and attended UCLA matriculating with a Master's degree in Urban Planning in 1993. Kathy has been a licensed architect since 1998 and started the firm K Dixon Architecture, PLLC in 2003. She acquired legacy firm Walton Madden Cooper Robinson Poness in 2016. Kathy is a past president of the National Organization of Minority Architects and was elevated to Fellow in the American Institute of Architects in 2017. She is also the co-author of the book titled “The Business of Architecture: Your Guide to a Financially Successful Firm” published in December 2017.Katherine Williams, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP is a licensed architect in Northern Virginia and currently a Senior Project Manager at a DC university. Her career path includes work in traditional architecture firms, community development, and managing commercial construction for a general contractor. Katherine has written extensively about the architecture profession, diversity in the industry, and community development. She has served as editor for multiple publications and was the NOMA magazine editor from 2009-2014. She writes at katherinerw.com and
2025 was a noisy year.Policy changes, interest rate adjustments and geopolitical roller coasters kept CRE on their toes.With financing loosening up and transactions picking up, the groundwork is being laid for a better 2026, but where is a safe investment in a world where fundamentals seem to be shifting?CBRE Global Client Strategist and Senior Economic Advisor Spencer Levy said he advises his clients to wade through the noise and look at the drivers in New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami and the Midwest to really see what's on the horizon for CRE. These include the reshoring of manufacturing and the train from Mexico to Canada, which carries nearly $2T in trade each year.“You follow that durable demand driver, that infrastructure, despite some of the tariff noise, despite some of the trade noise, despite some of the political changes — that's the time to find opportunity,” Levy said.
Trees are more than decoration — they're living economic assets, with measurable costs and benefits for cities and neighborhoods. Zachary Crockett takes a walk on the shady side of the street. SOURCES:Geoffrey Donovan, owner of Ash & Elm Consulting.Jana Dilley, urban forester for the city of Seattle.Kathleen Wolf, social scientist, former researcher at the University of Washington. RESOURCES:"Extreme Heat Is Worse For Low-Income, Nonwhite Americans, A New Study Shows," by Deepa Shivaram (NPR, 2021)."US Urban Forest Statistics, Values, and Projections," by David Nowak and Eric Greenfield (Journal of Forestry, 2018)."The role of trees in urban stormwater management," by Adam Berland, Sheri Shiflett, William Shuster, Ahjond Garmestani, Haynes Goddard, Dustin Herrmann, and Matthew Hopton (Landscape and Urban Planning, 2017)."Urban trees and the risk of poor birth outcomes," by Geoffrey Donovan, Yvonne Michael, David Butry, Amy Sullivan, and John Chase (Health & Place, 2011)."Calculating the Green in Green: What's an Urban Tree Worth?," by Gail Wells (Science Findings, 2010)."The Effect of Trees on Crime in Portland, Oregon," by Geoffrey Donovan and Jeffrey Prestemon (Environment and Behavior, 2010). EXTRAS:i-Tree Tools. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.